The lion’s share of the New York-bred yearlings catalogued for the marathon Keeneland September yearling sale have yet to go through the sales ring, but the select group offered in the first four sessions that comprise Book 1 made a strong showing this week as six individuals brought six figures, topped by a bay January filly by Lemon Drop Kid who was purchased by Blandford Bloodstock for $400,000.
Bred by Gallagher’s Stud and consigned by Craig and Holly Bandoroff’s Denali Stud, Hip 714 is the third foal out of Honoria, an Irish-bred stakes-winning daughter of Sadler’s Wells purchased by Gallagher’s Stud in foal at the 2009 Keeneland November sale for $250,000.
Honoria’s first foal and only runner to date is Maximova by Danehill Dancer (IRE), who parlayed a winning debut routing on the turf into three straight scores, capped by a victory in the Bit of Whimsey Stakes at Belmont Park. Honoria’s second foal, a 2-year-old Speightstown colt named Energy Town brought $180,000 at last year’s Keeneland yearling sale. Currently the mare has a weanling filly by Distorted Humor and was bred this year to Street Cry (IRE).
In all, eight of 11 New York-bred yearlings offered over the first four sessions of the sale sold for an average of $168,125 and $150,000 median. The numbers for the sale overall are strong. The cumulative average for Book 1 of $300,535 posted an increase of seven percent over last year’s $280,925 and the median of $240,000 was 15.7 percent higher than 2013’s $207,500. The RNA rate was essentially unchanged at 27 percent.
Following a dark day on Friday, the sale resumes on Saturday and Sunday with Book 2 (Hips 763-1585). Sessions begin at 10 a.m.
Click here for a listing of hip numbers and links to the catalogue pages of all New York-bred yearlings in the catalogue.
